HCM CITY — A decision to implement a programme to reduce traffic congestion and accidents by 2020 was signed by Trần Vĩnh Tuyến, deputy chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, last Friday.

The programme will include 97 projects that will include building new roads and a public transportation system.

The projects will cost a total of VNĐ96.159 trillion (US$4.12 billion), and will be mostly funded by the State, the city, and official development assistance (ODA).

Ten out of 97 projects costing VNĐ8.263 trillion ($354 million) will be built under Public-Private Partnership contracts.

Under the programme, the city is expected to put into use 33.5 km of new roads and 14 new bridges by the end of this year.

In 2019, an additional 75 kilometres of roads and 17 bridges will be built, and in 2020, 18 bridges and 81 km of roads will be added.

The programme has set a goal of reducing the number of fatalities and injuries caused by traffic accidents by 5 per cent by 2020.

In the 2018-20 period, the city will focus on developing its public transportation system, which is expected to meet 15 per cent of transport needs of residents by 2020.

The city will also expand new public bus routes that connect to new urban areas and industrial parks in the city, and link Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport with neighbouring provinces.

New bus routes to transfer students to schools and universities across the city will be established as well.

The city has prioritised public transport, including new bus stations and upgrading old ones, installing supervisory systems at stations, and setting up motorbike parking lots for passengers who use public transport.

It also expects to complete the use of smart cards for all public buses by 2020. — VNS